Seven Wonders of Disney World; Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
As night falls on the World Showcase Lagoon, you are hopefully filled with the good food and drink while strolling past the wonderful sights and smells. It’s been a long day at this amazing park, and your feet are killing you. But don’t go to the parking lot just yet. Before you make your way to the tram or the buses, find a good spot near the lagoon. Epcot’s final wonder is about the explode above you.
The light from the torches warms you and surrounds with an earthly glow, as the narrator’s voice fills the promenade. Then you can’t help but smile when he blows out his candles, an act that makes the narrator seem somewhat extraterrestrial. I can’t tell you where to look next, because what takes place during Illuminations: Reflections of Earth will test your senses to the limit.
This is not just a fireworks show, but you can figure that out right away. There are colors everywhere, from all angles. They burst overhead, rise from the waters, and lift-off from behind you. You see water, lasers, lights, and fire. The it all calms, if only for a few moments.
The darkness is broken by the earth gliding silently and gracefully across the lagoon. Well, maybe it is not completely silent. After all, the song that plays is a beautiful piece of music that seems to glide along with it.
The finale of Illuminations takes the whole idea of nighttime fireworks entertainment to a level never before achieved. Water jets and dances around the globe as it opens into a giant torch which throws flames so hot you can feel it hitting you, and tops itself with a spray of fireworks. Lasers knife the smoke above, while the pavilions that line the lagoon light in perfect synchronization. And did I mention the soundtrack?
In all of its incarnations, Illuminations was wonderful. But when this version debuted in 1999 as part of the millennium celebration the folks at Imagineering truly outdid themselves. I have filled these postings with photos of the Seven Wonders, but I have never taken a picture of Illuminations: Reflections of Earth that I am happy with. I am not a photographer, but Tim Devine is, and one of the best you’ll come across. Click this link for his portfolio of Illuminations photos from his website, the Magic in Pixels.
So that’s it. Mouse Extra’s Seven Wonders of Disney World are…
Illuminations: Reflections of Earth
Spaceship Earth
Expedition Everest
The World Showcase
The Monorail
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Tree of Life.
Once again, thanks to Lou and Nathan from the Mousetunes Podcast for planting this one in my head.
MJMcBride said,
January 3, 2007 @ 2:04 am
Fantasmic is better than Illuminations. And when I think of Wonders I think buildings and the like not events. Personally, I think The Animal Kingdom Lodge should be on this list. And maybe the Safari. I would remove Illuminations
David said,
January 3, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
Well, let me just argue that point a bit.
Fantasmic is a great choice, but many believe it is done better at Disneyland. That is an immediate disqualifier for me. Also, it has an entire section, Pocahontas, that I can do without. Another mark against.
Animal Kingdom Lodge is amazing, but it is essentially a hotel with a little zoo in the back. I just thought it needed a bit more to it to be considered along side Spaceship Earth or the Tree of Life.
The Safari has the awful Big Red-Little Red nonsense. If that is truly removed, then I think you are correct.
Illuminations combines more fireworks than anyone can imagine, coordinated with lasers, water and fire. The amount of creativity that went into every detail, right down to the music, blows me away.
MJMcBride said,
January 3, 2007 @ 3:00 pm
Well, I say thee nay. Animal Kigdom Lodge is a beautifully designed hotel, with a safari, incredible restaurants, and an amazing lobby. There are neat little things, like a outside campfire, CMs to discuss the animals on exhibit.
I don’t know if Fantasmic is better at DL or not. What I do know is Fantasmic is better than Illuminations
David said,
January 3, 2007 @ 3:27 pm
Fantasmic better than Illuminations?? OK, but that is not a real comparison. You are taking a lazer/fireworks/water show and comparing it to a stage show.
Also, this isn’t about being “better”.
MJMcBride said,
January 4, 2007 @ 3:05 am
sure it is. Besides its more of a “marvel” than Illuminations
Whitney said,
January 6, 2007 @ 4:11 am
Illuminations: marvelous, awe-inspiring fireworks with a beautiful theme.
Fantasmic: great show: sweet, dramatic, beautifully coordinated, but as far as fireworks go, eh eh. Illuminations has beter fireworks.
Call me crazy, but Wishes gives me almost as many chills as Illuminations!It’s the whole dream come true thing, it’s just so Disney.
David said,
January 6, 2007 @ 2:38 pm
Wishes is terrific, and Fantasmic is outstanding. But let me just state a couple of reasons why they didn’t make this list…
Wishes is a great firworks show, but certainly no wonder of creativity and engineering.
Fantasmic is awesome, but the Pocahantas section is meaningless and the Disneyland version is better.
MJMcBride said,
January 22, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Fantasmic still beats Illuminations in “wonder” and creativity